This article analyses the civil–military relations in Kenya in the context of civilian-activated ... more This article analyses the civil–military relations in Kenya in the context of civilian-activated politicization that is taking place the same way it happens in Latin America and the United States under the former Trump administration. In Kenya, this involves the use of the military in noncombat internal missions such as infrastructure development and management of public institutions especially where such institutions are perceived to be inefficient due to corruption both in public and private sectors. Judging from the outcomes of public works undertaken by the military, corruption and inefficiencies cannot be ruled out. This is demonstrated by the Kenya–Somalia Border Securitization Project where 34 million dollars was used to erect a 10-km fence in the war against terrorism. The outcomes of this study negate the logic of the proponents of developmental militarism in Africa who have been vocal in advocating the deployment of the soldiers to solve noncombat social challenges in the ...
The primary aim of this article is to document the process of turning research data into a peer r... more The primary aim of this article is to document the process of turning research data into a peer review journal article in the built environment disciplines. This is necessary to educate prospective authors who wish to convert their research output into quality journal articles. It proceeds to do this by first explaining how to do the write up in a professional manner. The write up is made up of three key parts: preliminaries (title, abstract, key words), main body (introduction, literature review, methods, findings, discussion, conclusion, notes, and references) and appendage. Once the write up is complete, it guides the prospective author on dos and don'ts (or professional ethics of publishing) during the pre-submission and post-submission period. This practice would help lessen the burden on the peer review systems and facilitate the prospective author to achieve successful article publication in a peer review journal.
This study evaluates the valuation process for property taxation under the County government in N... more This study evaluates the valuation process for property taxation under the County government in Nairobi. The valuation process is an important element of the property tax administration process because it links the market value of the property with the tax paid. Where the valuation process is unable to capture the full market value of the property, the County government does not get adequate revenue from property taxation and there is unfairness in taxation. Data was gathered through interview of officials in the Land Valuation Directorate of Nairobi City County to evaluate the property valuation process. Documentary search of the laws that govern property valuation process for taxation purpose at the county level was also done. Literature review of best practices in property valuation process in the world was done with focus on South Africa and USA. Data analysis was done through thematic analysis and ratios. The study established that Nairobi city has not yet adopted mass valuations, it uses outdated valuation registers that are over thirty years old and does not carry out regular revaluations. There is no independent body that monitors the valuation process in the County. The existing legislation has not promoted best practices in the valuation process. All these issues have resulted in the city not fully exploiting the revenue potential in property taxation in Nairobi City. The study recommends that the laws governing property taxation at the county level should be amended to reduce the period between revaluations to a maximum of five years; allow for use of mass valuation techniques and establish a body that monitors and regulates the property taxation process including valuation. The county should also use capital value as the basis of valuation and not unimproved site value. Nairobi County government should regularly carry out revaluation of the property tax base to boost its revenue.
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
The study looked at the opportunities and constraints facing artisanal units involved in the prod... more The study looked at the opportunities and constraints facing artisanal units involved in the production of dimension stone. Twenty-seven observable variables were derived from literature and developed into a questionnaire with prompts to indicate the level of their influence in the input environment of artisanal stone producer organizations. The questionnaire was administered to 148 key stakeholders involved in the production and use of dimension stone in Nairobi. Factor analysis was applied to the responses, a process that reduced the 27 variables into four underlying components that are actionable. The four underlying components that the 27 variables have been reduced to are: hostile policy environment, perceived negative impacts associated with quarrying, easily obtainable inputs, and simple and easily applicable production techniques. The study concludes that the constraints outweigh the opportunities available for these producers. Policy makers should therefore look into the four underlying components so as to enhance the enabling environment for the production of artisanal dimension stone. The study successfully applied socio-technical systems theory and factor analysis, two well-established instruments, to an informal systems phenomenon.
International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development, 2006
Abstract Privatization of water utilities is widely practiced in the belief that market forcesmay... more Abstract Privatization of water utilities is widely practiced in the belief that market forcesmay help achieve conservation as per the Dublin Principles (Fourth Principle).Kenya has adopted the privatization strategy with the commercialization, inter alia , of its water utilities. This paper looks at the legal, political, social, eco-nomic, commercial and environmental implications of this policy move in Kenya.It concludes that although commercialization of water utilities may generally leadto sustainability of services through economic pricing and the application ofefficiency-sensitive private sector business practices, there is still no firm evi-dence to show privatization as an appropriate strategy for sustainable develop-ment, particularly when seen on social, political and environmental grounds. Introduction Enhancing prospects for sustainable development through managementstrategies is increasingly recognized as a policy imperative. Privatization isone of the strategic management options generally prescribed for theobjective of sustainability in the water sector as promoted by the theory of‘market conservation’. According to this theory, economic pricing of waterwould lead to its efficient use and would hence enhance opportunities forconservation. But Allan (2005) has argued that the sustainability effect ofpolicy should not be limited to the water sector, but must also be capturedwithin the larger context of society and economy. This is in accord withthe concept of sustainable development, which must be considered interms of three dimensions: the economy, the environment and society(Hillier 2004).This paper considers the three dimensions of sustainable developmentto investigate the impact of privatization and commercialization of waterinfrastructure and services in Kenya. It concludes that although economicpricing may very well help contribute towards the achievement of sustain-able development, there is no reason to presume that gains on the com-mercial front cannot be more than offset by shortfalls on the social,economic and environmental grounds.
Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 2012
ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ The aim of this paper is to use the case study of Nairobi in Kenya in order to... more ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ The aim of this paper is to use the case study of Nairobi in Kenya in order to fill the gap of knowledge on the component ratios of new building costs that has been missing from international literature. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Using survey methodology that considered firms of contractors registered and operating in Nairobi Kenya, the paper compares its findings rendered in terms of percentage ratios: with theoretical propositions (e.g. Wood), with past studies (e.g. Knowles) and with practice guidelines in Kenya. Findings ‐ Overall it finds that there is no significant change in percentage component ratios considered from past studies and practice guidelines in Kenya leading to the conclusion that the building industry has not undergone any significant technical change during the periods under study, i.e. 1980-2006. Research limitations/implications ‐ The study is limited by the fact that it only manages to capture the contractors' views of the component ratios. Contractors may be inclined to hide their profits which can be a sensitive issue in the Kenyan market, which as a developing economy, may be riddled with corrupt practices such as tax evasion and imperfect business competition. However, the issues raised here can be used as base information for further studies on the topic. Additionally an analysis of variance was performed on the data to ascertain its credibility. Second, the data used to argue the paper's case is partially dated but remains useful. The trend shows that there has been no significant change in the composition of component ratios hence the data remains relevant to date. Practical implications ‐ The paper's findings would be useful to international readers especially now that international contractors are bidding for work in Kenya. The data would give these contractors a glimpse into the structural composition of building cost components in Nairobi. Originality/value ‐ The paper's original contribution concerns the component ratios of building costs that has been neglected in the existing literature. In Kenya some work had been done by Knowles, but this was restricted to office block buildings only, while this paper considers all buildings as shown in Table V.
This article analyses the civil–military relations in Kenya in the context of civilian-activated ... more This article analyses the civil–military relations in Kenya in the context of civilian-activated politicization that is taking place the same way it happens in Latin America and the United States under the former Trump administration. In Kenya, this involves the use of the military in noncombat internal missions such as infrastructure development and management of public institutions especially where such institutions are perceived to be inefficient due to corruption both in public and private sectors. Judging from the outcomes of public works undertaken by the military, corruption and inefficiencies cannot be ruled out. This is demonstrated by the Kenya–Somalia Border Securitization Project where 34 million dollars was used to erect a 10-km fence in the war against terrorism. The outcomes of this study negate the logic of the proponents of developmental militarism in Africa who have been vocal in advocating the deployment of the soldiers to solve noncombat social challenges in the ...
The primary aim of this article is to document the process of turning research data into a peer r... more The primary aim of this article is to document the process of turning research data into a peer review journal article in the built environment disciplines. This is necessary to educate prospective authors who wish to convert their research output into quality journal articles. It proceeds to do this by first explaining how to do the write up in a professional manner. The write up is made up of three key parts: preliminaries (title, abstract, key words), main body (introduction, literature review, methods, findings, discussion, conclusion, notes, and references) and appendage. Once the write up is complete, it guides the prospective author on dos and don'ts (or professional ethics of publishing) during the pre-submission and post-submission period. This practice would help lessen the burden on the peer review systems and facilitate the prospective author to achieve successful article publication in a peer review journal.
This study evaluates the valuation process for property taxation under the County government in N... more This study evaluates the valuation process for property taxation under the County government in Nairobi. The valuation process is an important element of the property tax administration process because it links the market value of the property with the tax paid. Where the valuation process is unable to capture the full market value of the property, the County government does not get adequate revenue from property taxation and there is unfairness in taxation. Data was gathered through interview of officials in the Land Valuation Directorate of Nairobi City County to evaluate the property valuation process. Documentary search of the laws that govern property valuation process for taxation purpose at the county level was also done. Literature review of best practices in property valuation process in the world was done with focus on South Africa and USA. Data analysis was done through thematic analysis and ratios. The study established that Nairobi city has not yet adopted mass valuations, it uses outdated valuation registers that are over thirty years old and does not carry out regular revaluations. There is no independent body that monitors the valuation process in the County. The existing legislation has not promoted best practices in the valuation process. All these issues have resulted in the city not fully exploiting the revenue potential in property taxation in Nairobi City. The study recommends that the laws governing property taxation at the county level should be amended to reduce the period between revaluations to a maximum of five years; allow for use of mass valuation techniques and establish a body that monitors and regulates the property taxation process including valuation. The county should also use capital value as the basis of valuation and not unimproved site value. Nairobi County government should regularly carry out revaluation of the property tax base to boost its revenue.
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
The study looked at the opportunities and constraints facing artisanal units involved in the prod... more The study looked at the opportunities and constraints facing artisanal units involved in the production of dimension stone. Twenty-seven observable variables were derived from literature and developed into a questionnaire with prompts to indicate the level of their influence in the input environment of artisanal stone producer organizations. The questionnaire was administered to 148 key stakeholders involved in the production and use of dimension stone in Nairobi. Factor analysis was applied to the responses, a process that reduced the 27 variables into four underlying components that are actionable. The four underlying components that the 27 variables have been reduced to are: hostile policy environment, perceived negative impacts associated with quarrying, easily obtainable inputs, and simple and easily applicable production techniques. The study concludes that the constraints outweigh the opportunities available for these producers. Policy makers should therefore look into the four underlying components so as to enhance the enabling environment for the production of artisanal dimension stone. The study successfully applied socio-technical systems theory and factor analysis, two well-established instruments, to an informal systems phenomenon.
International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development, 2006
Abstract Privatization of water utilities is widely practiced in the belief that market forcesmay... more Abstract Privatization of water utilities is widely practiced in the belief that market forcesmay help achieve conservation as per the Dublin Principles (Fourth Principle).Kenya has adopted the privatization strategy with the commercialization, inter alia , of its water utilities. This paper looks at the legal, political, social, eco-nomic, commercial and environmental implications of this policy move in Kenya.It concludes that although commercialization of water utilities may generally leadto sustainability of services through economic pricing and the application ofefficiency-sensitive private sector business practices, there is still no firm evi-dence to show privatization as an appropriate strategy for sustainable develop-ment, particularly when seen on social, political and environmental grounds. Introduction Enhancing prospects for sustainable development through managementstrategies is increasingly recognized as a policy imperative. Privatization isone of the strategic management options generally prescribed for theobjective of sustainability in the water sector as promoted by the theory of‘market conservation’. According to this theory, economic pricing of waterwould lead to its efficient use and would hence enhance opportunities forconservation. But Allan (2005) has argued that the sustainability effect ofpolicy should not be limited to the water sector, but must also be capturedwithin the larger context of society and economy. This is in accord withthe concept of sustainable development, which must be considered interms of three dimensions: the economy, the environment and society(Hillier 2004).This paper considers the three dimensions of sustainable developmentto investigate the impact of privatization and commercialization of waterinfrastructure and services in Kenya. It concludes that although economicpricing may very well help contribute towards the achievement of sustain-able development, there is no reason to presume that gains on the com-mercial front cannot be more than offset by shortfalls on the social,economic and environmental grounds.
Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 2012
ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ The aim of this paper is to use the case study of Nairobi in Kenya in order to... more ABSTRACT Purpose ‐ The aim of this paper is to use the case study of Nairobi in Kenya in order to fill the gap of knowledge on the component ratios of new building costs that has been missing from international literature. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Using survey methodology that considered firms of contractors registered and operating in Nairobi Kenya, the paper compares its findings rendered in terms of percentage ratios: with theoretical propositions (e.g. Wood), with past studies (e.g. Knowles) and with practice guidelines in Kenya. Findings ‐ Overall it finds that there is no significant change in percentage component ratios considered from past studies and practice guidelines in Kenya leading to the conclusion that the building industry has not undergone any significant technical change during the periods under study, i.e. 1980-2006. Research limitations/implications ‐ The study is limited by the fact that it only manages to capture the contractors' views of the component ratios. Contractors may be inclined to hide their profits which can be a sensitive issue in the Kenyan market, which as a developing economy, may be riddled with corrupt practices such as tax evasion and imperfect business competition. However, the issues raised here can be used as base information for further studies on the topic. Additionally an analysis of variance was performed on the data to ascertain its credibility. Second, the data used to argue the paper's case is partially dated but remains useful. The trend shows that there has been no significant change in the composition of component ratios hence the data remains relevant to date. Practical implications ‐ The paper's findings would be useful to international readers especially now that international contractors are bidding for work in Kenya. The data would give these contractors a glimpse into the structural composition of building cost components in Nairobi. Originality/value ‐ The paper's original contribution concerns the component ratios of building costs that has been neglected in the existing literature. In Kenya some work had been done by Knowles, but this was restricted to office block buildings only, while this paper considers all buildings as shown in Table V.
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Papers by O.A. K'Akumu